Kathryn Rem: Fannie May returns to Springfield

Wednesday

Edward Fitzpatrick, vice president of retail operations for Fannie May, said the company is opening 11 Midwestern stores this year. The new locations include Springfield and Bloomington-Normal.

When Barbara Guilden heard that a Fannie May candy store had opened in Springfield — more than four years after the last two closed — the Decatur woman traveled here to pick up some vanilla buttercreams and Pixies.

“I’ve been a fan of Fannie May since Mrs. O’Leary’s cow started the fire,” joked Guilden, 52, who lived in Chicago as a child. “This is the candy I grew up with.”

Springfield got its first Fannie May retail store in the 1930s, and its presence here lasted about 70 years.

In 2004, Archibald Candy Corp., parent company of Fannie May, closed its Chicago production facilities and chain of more than 200 retail outlets — including the Springfield locations in White Oaks Mall and Town & Country Shopping Center — after filing for bankruptcy. Soon after, Utah-based Alpine Confections Inc. bought the rights to the brand and reopened some of the stores.

In 2006, the venerable Illinois chocolatier — 1920 was when the first retail store was opened by H. Teller Archibald in downtown Chicago — was acquired by the 1-800-Flowers.com family of brands, which includes Plow & Hearth outdoor living, The Popcorn Factory and Ambrosia Wines.

Edward Fitzpatrick, vice president of retail operations for Fannie May, said the company is opening 11 Midwestern stores this year. The new locations include Springfield and Bloomington-Normal.

“We’re using the same recipes,” he said, allaying a concern of longtime customers.

Boxed Fannie May candy is available in a number of local gift shops, drug stores and supermarkets.

In the new retail store at 2939 S. Veterans Parkway, next to County Market, boxed assortments are displayed near neat rows of Trinidads, Mint Meltaways, almond clusters, nut fudge, Dixies, nougat rolls and chocolate toffee.

“We have at least 80 different pieces, plus we brought back our coffee and cocoa line,” said Fannie May district manager Leanna Cole. “They’re not in yet, but we’ll be carrying Eli’s Cheesecake, specialty cakes and ice cream.” Sugar-free candies also will be added.

“I’ve been working for Fannie May 28 years,” said Cole, who started as a sales clerk at age 16. “It brings back memories for so many people. They’ve been coming in and saying, ‘Oh, you’re back!’”

Guilden is one of them.

“The store looks different than the old stores,” she said. “But I’m hoping the candy tastes the same.”

Kathryn Rem can be reached at (217) 788-1520 or kathryn.rem@sj-r.com.

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